Hyundai Venue facelift 1.0 T-GDI DCT first drive review [Video]

Hyundai entered the sub-4m SUV segment a bit late compared to the competitors. After bringing the all-new Venue in 2019 to take on the cars like Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, we have an updated version of the car now. The Venue remains one of the best-selling cars from the brand and to keep that arrangement unchanged, Hyundai has thoroughly updated the Venue. We drove the 1.0 T-GDI DCT variant of the Venue and here is what we think about the car.

Does not look the same

The new Hyundai Venue does not resemble the older model, especially if you compare the front and rear. The front gets a new massive parametric grille. This is a new design that the flagship SUVs like Tucson and Palisade get. The new grille grabs most of your attention and since it is dark chrome, it looks elegant instead of in-your-face chrome.

Also read: Tata Punch and Hyundai Venue in a comparison video

The headlamps are still positioned in the same location. They also get the same size and shape. However, the top-level trims now get all-LED projector lamps replacing the halogens. The DRLs form the boundary of the headlamps and are bright enough to be visible even during the daytime.

Hyundai has used a new design for the bumper as well. The bumper now gets a black insert and it connects both ends of the vehicle. This definitely adds a new wide stance to the new Hyundai Venue.

The position of the bonnet lid remains the same and the creases on the top are exactly the same as before. But with the new grille, the Venue facelift definitely sheds the old look for a new futuristic design.

On the side, the only change you will get to see is the new alloy wheels. With the top-end variant that we are driving today, Hyundai has added the new 16-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels that do catch a lot of attention. The car gets the chromed door handles and above, you get the roof rails too. If you open the doors at night, you will also notice the new puddle lamps located under the ORVMs. The dimensions of the new Hyundai Venue facelift remain identical to the last model and there are no changes to that.

But the rear of the car gets a lot of changes just like the front end! The tail lamps are new. These are LED split lamps with clear lenses. There is this LED stripe that connects both the tail lamps. Now, this stripe may remind you of a few other models on sale in the market but it looks good, really good, especially at night. The tail lamps form an H-Shape.

Even the rear gets a black bumper insert that runs wide to the edges of the vehicle. The new Hyundai Venue facelift gets a lot more updates than conventional facelift models that we have seen in the past.

The cabin feels premium

While the layout of the cabin of the new Venue facelift remains identical to the pre-facelift model, the changes make it feel more premium. Hyundai has added a new dual-tone black and beige colour. It ensures to add an airy feel to the cabin and feels much better than the all-black cabin that we used to get.

The seats are new and you get side bolsters to keep your body secured in place. You can now adjust the driver seat electrically with the buttons on the side. The seats are not ventilated though. Hyundai has also added new ambient lights to the cabin and it sure looks great at night. Another change here is the infotainment system.

It is a new 8.0-inch touchscreen system and it gets a lot of a long list of updates. India is a vibrant country with different languages and this new screen now supports ten regional languages. Other than that you get sports and weather updates and also ambient sounds to relax you. How? The new Venue can play various sounds like a forest, rain, ocean, and more. You also get a fixed air purifier that Hyundai has neatly integrated into the front armrest.

This infotainment system is also connected to Google Assistant and Alexa and you can ask for status on your home devices.

The TFT screen in front of me is also new and it changes colours according to the drive modes. I will talk about that bit while driving. Other than that, it shows a lot of information about the car including the individual tyre pressure of the wheels. There are minor changes here and there but overall the cabin largely remains the same. We still get the soft-touch materials on the door pads and everything else is hard plastic.

The rear also gets a few changes. The biggest of them all? The reclining seats. Yes, no other car in this segment offers reclining rear seats. It slight eats up the space in the boot but it is negligible. There are usual features like an armrest with cup holders, USB-type C chargers, and rear ventilation.

The reclining of the rear seats makes the passengers relax in a much more comfortable position. Hyundai has smartly designed the front seats. The front seats are now scooped to add more knee room. Also, the thigh support has improved and the rear seats feel much more comfortable and spacious than before. People who do not really like to jump into the rear seats should definitely check out the new Venue facelift. But the transmission tunnel and the rear console for the AC vents and charging sockets eats into the legroom of the middle passengers. It will be a tight squeeze for the fifth passenger just like most other sub-4m compact SUVs out there.

Let’s talk about the drive

Hyundai still offers the same engine and transmission options as the Venue facelift. You get the same 1.2-litre naturally-aspirated petrol, 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol and a 1.5-litre diesel engine. We only drove the 1.0-litre T-GDI engine with 7-speed DCT and we will only talk about that.

Hyundai claims that this is the second-generation DCT transmission. With the top-end variant of the 1.0 DCT variant, Hyundai has also added drive modes. There are three modes – Normal, Eco and Sport. The colour of the TFT instrument cluster changes with the drive modes.

The engine produces a maximum power of 120 PS and a peak torque of 172 Nm. Engaging the different drive modes changes the engine mapping. Hyundai has not revealed the exact power figures in different modes but you definitely feel the change when you press the accelerator. It is the sharpest in the sports mode. If are you not content with the gear shifts, you can always use the paddle shifters for easy and quick shifts.

The turbocharged petrol engine produces ample power. There is enough power to make your head go towards the headrest. Even braking power, which comes from front disc brakes and rear drum brakes is decent. But we would have loved the rear disc brakes, especially in the top-end variant.

The Venue 1.0 turbo-petrol DCT is very drivable in all kinds of conditions. We were stuck in the Hyderabad traffic and the DCT worked very well in the slow-moving traffic. We also took the highways and were impressed with the setup.

What we were not particularly impressed with was the suspension set-up. While Hyundai has tweaked the suspension it is not the best setup in the segment. The suspension feels stiff while going over rough patches and you will feel the sharp movements on the potholes. However, turning the car at high speeds or changing lanes suddenly on the highways can make you feel nervous. The Venue can throw the passengers around the corners at high speeds.

But it sure is an overall complete package that most youngsters will love to drive.

Good enough to buy?

The Venue facelift is a complete package. It gets a long list of safety equipment including six airbags with the top-end variant. Hyundai has priced the new Venue competitively and it does come with a long list of features as well. It gets a decent boot space and it is perfect for tackling the crowded city roads. In fact, the Venue is also enough for your weekend drives to the nearby destinations too. If you’re looking for a car that can be used daily to tackle the city traffic and take you on weekend road trips, the Venue does make a lot of sense. You can check out our full video and comment what you think about the new Venue facelift.

Also read: Upcoming 2022 Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza rendered